Cheverly council reviews public works budget, highlights solar plan, compost pilot and street projects

The vice mayor opened the Cheverly town council meeting and called on Mr. Bridal to present the Public Works departmental budget for fiscal year 2026.

Mr. Bridal said the department recorded several accomplishments over the past year, including invasive‑planting partnerships, expanded volunteer and community event participation, and tree work: “We planted a 167 trees over the past year, 292 trees pruned,” he told the council. He noted two employees earned roadside tree care certification and two employees recently obtained commercial driver’s licenses.

On capital and grant funding, Mr. Bridal said the town secured a community parks and playgrounds grant for Boyd Park and obtained a state bond/capital grant that will cover most furniture and fixtures for the Ealy Building. He said the town expects to install about “a 193 kilowatts, which is a 193,000 watts of solar that would be on top of both of the structures.” He also said the town is poised to receive a county reimbursement of “$370,000 coming back on that” for Crestline storm drain work, and that FEMA stormwater work remains in progress with estimated project amounts discussed during the presentation.

Walking the council through line items, Mr. Bridal said one page showed a roughly $76,000 favorable variance and the overall public works lines reflected about a $59,000 favorable variance. He called out modest proposed salary increases and noted that four labor positions remain frozen in the proposal. Overtime was discussed as an ongoing cost driver; Mr. Bridal cited FY figures and estimated that approximately $40,000–$50,000 of annual overtime is attributable to snow removal in a typical year.

Mr. Bridal also described equipment and fleet needs: a new roll‑off truck funded in part by ARPA will replace older equipment, sanitation and recycling line items are proposed to remain flat, and the department has proposed $10,000 to outfit the new garage and modest placeholders for contingencies tied to the new Public Works building. He said town staff are evaluating LED streetlight procurement and that a small PEPCO rebate is expected for energy efficiency and EV charging work.

Council members pressed for clarifications. Council member Watson requested a personnel position list (not individual names) and confirmation that the salary total includes a 1.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment plus merit increases; Mr. Bridal confirmed those elements and said the broader capital improvement plan (CIP) would be addressed at a larger budget meeting on May 1. The council also clarified fuel budgeting: the proposed $60,000 fuel line in the Public Works budget is intended for Public Works vehicles, while other departments are expected to carry their own fuel lines in the FY26 proposal.

On street and traffic work, council members asked whether funds cover potential traffic calming or changes on Lockwood and Inwood; Mr. Bridal said those costs are not listed specifically but could be covered from banked HUR funds or the department’s contracted services and asphalt/concrete allocations. He also said the Clean Water Partnership covered more than $500,000 of the town’s match on a stormwater project.

The council thanked Public Works for delivering a budget presented as lower overall than last year, and members expressed support for pursuing the listed projects and grants. The council adjourned after a motion to adjourn passed unanimously among the four members present.

What’s next: Mr. Bridal and staff indicated a broader budget meeting on May 1 will include the CIP and further departmental details; council members asked for the position list and additional detail on timelines for the Ealy Building, crestline reimbursements and composting options.